There's No Place Like Home: September 2010

Well, we're chugging right along. I'd like to think that it is always someone we've contracted work out to that is holding us up, however there is about a thousand things we are always scrambling to do even though they push their dates back. The final task outsourced is carpet and that will probably be installed while I'm in labor (worst case scenario) but you can bet I'll be there watching to make sure they don't damage our new trim or doors. I'll lay on the tile and be dramatic, and maybe they'll work a little faster. We got our kitchen countertops in this week and so I'll include a picture of that, plus our freshly painted crown moulding and bannisters and walls. Derrick, my contractor, trapeze artist and husband hung new fixtures from our 18 foot ceilings over labor day weekend and they look amazing! I should have taken a picture of the ridiculously dangerous contraption he made to climb and hang 3 different lights, but I couldn't even watch him do it.

The dining room and stairway going upstairs. And, yes, that is a big green accent wall that will not be as overwhelming when furniture is up against it.

The formal living room and entryway with new front door and lighting fixtures and new tile at the front door.

The kitchen with new recessed lighting and main lighting (it used to just be a big fluorescent light in the middle and one light over the sink.) New countertops, new cabinets. The panel on the back of the peninsula is being replaced because it came in from the manufacturer gouged. Appliances are coming next week.

A closer look at the countertops with new stainless steel undermount sink

On a non-house note, Hayden and I have been fitting in fun between work and enjoying our last couple of weeks together of just Mama and son. He is so fun right now. Very toddler dramatic. His favorite answer to every question is "no" which my understanding is perfectly normal. He is stringing words together which occasionally come out sounding more like a command than a statement. We call him the Japanese general (which was from this bit on Last Comic Standing that was hilarious) because he gives very serious commands in broken English. When we are at the new house and the grass is looking a l

ittle too long for his liking he points to it and says "Mama mow grass". He also likes to say "Mama vacuum" a lot. You can tell he sees his Daddy with construction clothes on more than anything else lately as a new descriptor is "icky, icky Daddy." Even Sadie gets bossed around with "Good girl potty!" or "no no no Good Girl". I think she's the only one who takes him seriously. Poor girl, she's submitted to a toddler who weighs 60 pounds less that she does. My little smarty pants is getting very good with colors and will point out the colors of many objects with our favorite being the "yellow schoo bus" and the occasional "purple guck" (that's truck in case you don't speak toddler.) He can verbalize all the colors except for red because that "r" just trips us up, though he can pick it out. Its amazing the words he's learning everyday. He surprises even me. When we're at the house he'll say the words saw and sawhorse and paint. I guess he'll develop his construction vocabulary right now. He's also a great helper. I'm so proud of him that he picks up his toys and puts them away (in all the right places at that), gives Sadie her treats and puts her outside (with me shutting the door), and carries in groceries (don't worry, I give him the lighter things.) He'll be a great help when the new baby comes. I love him so much and look forward to the times we'll have in new company and the memories we'll make for ourselves when we sneak away for Hayden and mama time occasionally.

How is it possible to get this MUCH avocado on your face without trying?

He thought this was hilarious. I just thought it was cute that he was walking around like a Princess Leia.

Who can resist tickling a little bit.

Well we'll post more as more happens. Pics of a wee one coming soon!

To keep you in the loop, we are now working at light speed to finish what feels like an insurmountable project that we took on with this house. My understanding is that nothing ever goes according to plan, takes more time than expected and almost always costs more (except on HGTV where they have magical powers or magical discounts.) I am now into the nesting phase of pregnancy without a nest and trying to keep our current, but not permanent nest running and trying to make the end of summer fun for Hayden. Every time we have a play date at someone else's house, I

realize how little I know of toy buying and seem to be depriving (okay, not depriving because let's face it, Hayden does have more than sticks and rocks to play with) Hayden of the enjoyment of childhood via toys. So I go on rampages. We have thus far bought a swing (which will be hung at our new house when my engineering husband has time for that "low priority item.) We have gotten him a tricycle (which he will be given as his own special present when the baby comes home.) And I had to order it online because it didn't occur to me until late August to buy one, but I got him a baby pool (with a shade for those blistering days...next summer). We busted that one out. It took me 3 days

to do it, because I couldn't find the little air pump and I was not about to pass out on the back patio blowing this thing up (though Derrick has made me blow up an entire air mattress at 10,000ft altitude while pregnant with just my meager lungs and didn't understand why I couldn't just go to town on this little pool.) However, the feat was accomplished and now we love our new "poo" as Hayden calls it. So here are some cute pictures.
As for the house, cabinets are being finished up today (with exception of a few doors and a panel that have to be reordered), some major painting is being done today and Tuesday, and Derrick will get almost all the tiling finished and doors hung. So we're getting there. I'll post pics of progress after this weekend. Meanwhile, enjoy the Hayden pictures!